Child of the Rebellion: West Virginia Sesquicentennial
Civil War Union Militia Correspondence

Philippi Barbour County
West Va July 20th 1863

Dear Sir
Benjamin Simon, a Major in the 169 Regt
of Va militia, called up on me this morning and
desired me to write to you, with a view to having
some order made from the proper authority, in
[?] to ordering out and [?] such of the
num[sic] of his battallions[sic], (the 1st in said Regit.) as it
will do to entrust with the implements of war.

His Col. Michael Simon. & Lieut[sic] Col. Moses Simon,
met here in Saturday, and after consultation with
each other and with me, the Col. So I am advised by the
Major, decided that he would not take the resp-
onsibility[sic] of having guns and amunition[sic]
sent for (with a view to aim the postion[sic]
postion[sic] loyal of his men,) unless he was ordered to
do so by some higher authority.

The Major insists that he has, say some
[?] trusty loyal men in his battallion[sic], who
Thought to have arms, for the purpose of doing
oacasional[sic] service in suppressing the horse
theives[sic] who are continually in our midst.

He seems to wish to have such orders giv
en from Headquarters, as will overcome the [?]
[?] of his Col. so that the men can get arms to.
I promised to write to you as our “Commander in Chief.”
so that if it is thought advisable, your subordinates
can be but in the proper line of duty. My private opinion
would be, that it is not now apparently neceisary[sic] to call
out all the militia of our County, and Instruk[sic] them away from
their [?], as I am informed has been done in Upshur
to, but perhaps a few of them scattered over out County
who are whole might, by having arms, intimidate
the marauding theives[sic], with whom we are sure to be
infested from the mountain haunts and are cower
even after the war is over. If it is proper to have
unless made, I hope it will be attended to. Mr. Simon
is to see me again on Saturday next & bring me a list of
the true Union Men under him, and wishes me to
some directions from you by that time, if practicable. He states that he has written to you about
commissions from the new State authority but
has received no answer. I shall be much pleas
ed to hear from you at your time and conv
enience[sic].

I am very Truly
Yours to
Spencer Dayton

Transcription by James Bailes, undergraduate student enrolled in Dr. Billy Joe Peyton’s Fall 2010 “Introduction to Public History” at West Virginia State University